Bullying, it's something that has been ongoing for decades in schools, at work, in clubs and even on the street. Some people are aware of it and walk by it, pretending that by not paying it any attention it will eventually go away. Others are oblivious to the fact that it even exists.
Children are like fragile caterpillars that are shaped by society and parents who possess the utmost responsibility to aid those youngsters in morphing into majestic butterflies. But, it doesn't always go as planned and something along the way hinders that process.
Bang Bang You're Dead sheds light on a much overlooked subject – bullying. The movie's beauty lies in the fact that it does not point the finger at a single individual as one would expect it to. It simply gives you the facts and leaves you as the sole judge in the matter. The movie revolves around a high school, the birthplace and current habitat of bullying. It shows us the details we, more often than not, neglect. It emphasizes the presence of trigger factors that steer the acts of savagery we hear about in the news. So, in short, it gives us the raw and dreadful truths that we are just never told.
The movie shows us the immense role the parents play in every kid's life. Parents should be the shoulder that every child can lean on, and even though they may sometimes be at fault, even though they may be ignorant to what is really going on, they cannot be fully blamed. Then we move on to the authorities in charge, and the educators, who fall short when it comes to carrying out their duties simply by failing to see the big picture. They disregard acts of harassments between students as "child play" and are then astounded when those acts have brutal outcomes. The movie stresses on how those in charge should seek to view both sides of the story, for they hold the key to alleviating such unnecessary catastrophes.
The one thing I found most striking about this film was how it gave the limelight to every single character, giving them a chance to tell their story for a change. It was simply grand, how no one person was singled out as the "victim", how no one was portrayed as a "saint". There are actions and to every one of those actions there is a reaction which may not be equal, contrary to belief. Sometimes, it's even greater. One cruel act can lead to relentless hatred and that's where it all begins.
For the first time we find ourselves confronted with the idea that acts of hostility and those who carry them out do not go without justification. This film does that so elegantly without ever leaning towards condoning those deeds.
By the end of the film we are hit by the realization that we each have a part to play, even if we were unaware of it – and should we disappoint in doing our part, it leads to a spiral of events that only seen to go downhill. We are all part of a chain which merely becomes an ornament should one of us flunk their task.
The movie leaves us asking ourselves – who is really at fault here. And the answer is simple – we all are. Kids are being bullied every day – and it's not going to stop until we all take a stance and face ourselves. Because whether we like it or not, we all play a role in this and only when we comprehend that obligation will we truly put an end to this, once and for all.
7.5/10
Children are like fragile caterpillars that are shaped by society and parents who possess the utmost responsibility to aid those youngsters in morphing into majestic butterflies. But, it doesn't always go as planned and something along the way hinders that process.
Bang Bang You're Dead sheds light on a much overlooked subject – bullying. The movie's beauty lies in the fact that it does not point the finger at a single individual as one would expect it to. It simply gives you the facts and leaves you as the sole judge in the matter. The movie revolves around a high school, the birthplace and current habitat of bullying. It shows us the details we, more often than not, neglect. It emphasizes the presence of trigger factors that steer the acts of savagery we hear about in the news. So, in short, it gives us the raw and dreadful truths that we are just never told.
The movie shows us the immense role the parents play in every kid's life. Parents should be the shoulder that every child can lean on, and even though they may sometimes be at fault, even though they may be ignorant to what is really going on, they cannot be fully blamed. Then we move on to the authorities in charge, and the educators, who fall short when it comes to carrying out their duties simply by failing to see the big picture. They disregard acts of harassments between students as "child play" and are then astounded when those acts have brutal outcomes. The movie stresses on how those in charge should seek to view both sides of the story, for they hold the key to alleviating such unnecessary catastrophes.
The one thing I found most striking about this film was how it gave the limelight to every single character, giving them a chance to tell their story for a change. It was simply grand, how no one person was singled out as the "victim", how no one was portrayed as a "saint". There are actions and to every one of those actions there is a reaction which may not be equal, contrary to belief. Sometimes, it's even greater. One cruel act can lead to relentless hatred and that's where it all begins.
For the first time we find ourselves confronted with the idea that acts of hostility and those who carry them out do not go without justification. This film does that so elegantly without ever leaning towards condoning those deeds.
By the end of the film we are hit by the realization that we each have a part to play, even if we were unaware of it – and should we disappoint in doing our part, it leads to a spiral of events that only seen to go downhill. We are all part of a chain which merely becomes an ornament should one of us flunk their task.
The movie leaves us asking ourselves – who is really at fault here. And the answer is simple – we all are. Kids are being bullied every day – and it's not going to stop until we all take a stance and face ourselves. Because whether we like it or not, we all play a role in this and only when we comprehend that obligation will we truly put an end to this, once and for all.
7.5/10